Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Paragraph: 76
Provide clarity on achieving the 24 GW aim, including reactor mix and project timeline.
Recommendation
The Government should provide clarity on how it plans to achieve its 24 gigawatt aim, and the expected timeline for these. This should include details of: a) the target mix of reactor technologies, including the desired number of future gigawatt scale reactors, that the Government will support; and b) a detailed timeline for when new projects are expected to be completed.
Government Response Summary
The government clarified its 24GW ambition includes a pipeline of large-scale, SMR, and AMR technologies, aiming for SMR operational plants and Sizewell C generation by the mid-2030s, and committed to setting out further details in the Roadmap later this year.
Paragraph Reference:
76
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The UK has set an ambition of having up to 24GW of nuclear capacity installed by 2050. This requires creating a pipeline of new nuclear capacity coming online up to 2050. HMG has committed to achieving two Final Investment Decisions in the next Parliament, at least one of which will be for SMRs. Achieving the UK civil nuclear programme means building a pipeline across the full spectrum of nuclear technologies, including large-scale, small modular reactors, and advanced modular reactor technologies. We will support at scale the development of SMR technology as well as the design, engineering, and supporting infrastructure to ensure that we can deliver on our ambition for operational plants in the mid-2030s. With regard to Sizewell C, subject to project development and the timing of any positive final investment decision, we expect the project to be generating power by the mid-2030s. We will set out further detail on future plans in the Roadmap published later this year.